Comments on: FAA commercial space budget hearing and a policy initiative

By: Dennis Berube

Dennis Berube — Fri, 06 May 2011 14:54:17 +0000

I did attempt to find out about spacesuits on the SpaceX site. However I found nothing. Im sure they are planning for such, but just watching a vid. doesnt answer the question. Sorry if my internet skills are lacking, in that if you are not working for Boeing or SpaceX, then neither do you have the final word. I am very sure the risks are known, but the question is how far will it be allowed to go. Spacesuits add weight to the payload, so that must be considered into it.

By: Coastal Ron

Coastal Ron — Tue, 03 May 2011 04:28:47 +0000

Dennis Berube wrote @ May 2nd, 2011 at 3:04 pm

“They are going to have space suits arent they? It was learned early on, with Soyuz 11 what happens to crew that fly without space suits.”

I think Ken Bowersox, who has flown on both Shuttle and Soyuz, and is the SpaceX VP of Astronaut Safety and Mission Assurance, is quite aware of the issue. I would imagine Boeing has someone of similar experience and knowledge to guide their astronaut safety program. And if you’ve seen any of the SpaceX Dragon videos, they all show suited passengers.

If you look back at the Shuttle program you will find that they changed to various forms of crew escape suits after the Challenger accident. Before Challenger they were just in blue flight suits (unpressurized).

Between the Soyuz flights and Challenger, I would imagine that everyone will err on the side of caution. But it’s kind of like worrying about where your kid will go to college when they are only just starting 6th grade…

You know Dennis, sometimes you could answer your own questions by just doing a few simple internet searches. It’s not like we all work for Boeing or SpaceX – we’re just better at doing internet searches than (apparently) you are. Don’t worry though, since that is a skill that you can easily pick up – if you just try.

By: pathfinder_01

pathfinder_01 — Tue, 03 May 2011 03:14:59 +0000

“Well I was questioning thes space suits that will be worn on Dragon, ad or CST-100, with civilians aboard. They are going to have space suits arent they? It was learned early on, with Soyuz 11 what happens to crew that fly without space suits. That is what my question is aimed at.”

Yes, check the posts above for more info but they should have space suits.

By: Dennis Berube

Dennis Berube — Mon, 02 May 2011 19:04:11 +0000

Well I was questioning thes space suits that will be worn on Dragon, ad or CST-100, with civilians aboard. They are going to have space suits arent they? It was learned early on, with Soyuz 11 what happens to crew that fly without space suits. That is what my question is aimed at.

By: common sense

common sense — Mon, 02 May 2011 17:10:34 +0000

@ Jim Muncy wrote @ May 2nd, 2011 at 12:13 pm

“I mean, SERIOUSLY?!”

Are you getting tired of the HLV reqs that every one knows what they MUST be in order to achieve the mysterious unfunded 130 mT mission???

By: common sense

common sense — Mon, 02 May 2011 16:30:39 +0000

@ BeancounterFromDownunder wrote @ May 1st, 2011 at 7:30 am

Yeah I read at nasawatch.com. It’s so cool actually that I can’t help smiling. Way to go Aerojet! Keep it up my friends! Wait until other challenges come about, like MPCV… Wait you’ll see.

Don’t you like irony?

By: common sense

common sense — Mon, 02 May 2011 16:28:55 +0000

@ Robert G. Oler wrote @ May 1st, 2011 at 12:54 am

“he is an engineer? Really? Oh well so is Wayneâ€¦

NASA actually has far to many engineersâ€¦doing things that engineers have no business doing. Robert G. Oler”

Well actually, didn’t you know that an engineer is someone who knows everything there is to know on whatever they speak of? It’s the law I think. Isn’t it?

By: Jim Muncy

Jim Muncy — Mon, 02 May 2011 16:13:46 +0000

Folks,

Do we have to ask Jeff to create a generic daily HLV rant topic for people to talk about… so that they don’t use OTHER topics that I would genuinely appreciate hearing feedback on to bitch pro-con HLV?

I mean, SERIOUSLY?!

– Jim

By: BeancounterFromDownunder

BeancounterFromDownunder — Sun, 01 May 2011 11:30:19 +0000

Notice there could be a challenge by Aerojet (and probably others) regarding the SLS and using existing components such as propulsion systems. Apparently this would mean all work on existing contracts related to these systems would have to cease until the issue was resolved.
“Private companies can challenge a government contract award decision at the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) or the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Even modifications to existing contracts are fair game when it comes to bid protests, Cooke said, if the changes significantly alter the scope of the work being performed.”
Shucks, what a pity. Might save some of the billions that are being wasted.
Reference: http://www.spacenews.com/civil/110429-nasa-wary-protests-heavy-lift.html

By: Das Boese

Das Boese — Sun, 01 May 2011 11:00:18 +0000

I don’t feel like jumping into the endless HLV discussion again, but on a side note:

I wonder how long this petty “spaceflight participant” nonsense will continue.